System and method for recycling of articles

Abstract

A system for receiving recyclable items having a deposit value from a customer, comprising a user station comprising means to generate tags bearing a unique tag identifier, an operator station comprising an operator interface for entering the tag identifier and the numbers and types of recyclable items, and a computer in communication with the customer and operator interfaces, to calculate the total deposit value for recyclable items and ascribe a deposit value to said customer account, and to update the customer account with a monetary amount correlating to said deposit value, is herein disclosed.

1 . A system for receiving recyclable articles having a deposit value from a customer, said articles being held in bulk within a container, said system comprising:
 a customer station comprising a reader to read a machine-readable customer information carrier associated with said customer, a customer-operable information input, and a tag generator for generating and dispensing a tag bearing a unique tag identifier for attachment to said container;   an operator station removed from said customer station comprising an operator interface for reading or entering information from the tag identifier and for entering the numbers and types of recyclable articles within the container associated with said tag; and,   a computer in operative communication with said customer station and said operator station, said computer comprising program instructions to: generate an individual customer account for said customer, to store and update data relating to said customer account, to record the number of tags issued to said customer at said customer interface and the unique tag identifier information associated therewith, to calculate the total deposit value for recyclable articles entered at said operator interface associated with said tag, ascribe said deposit value to said customer account, and to update said customer account with a monetary amount correlating to said deposit value.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the customer identifier comprises a data carrier selected from one or more of the group comprising an optically-scannable bar code, a magnetic strip, an RFID device, and a readable computer chip. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said user station is unmanned and remote from said operator station. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said computer is adapted to communicate said customer account information via a global computer network connection. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said computer is remote from said user and operator station. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said user interface permits said customer to enter the number of containers being deposited at the station by said customer, each of said containers being associated with one of said tags, and wherein said user interface communicates the total number of said tags issued to said customer to said central computer. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said computer is adapted to transfer a selected amount of the funds in said customer account to said customer or other selected recipient. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said computer is adapted to update said customer account with information specific to each customer transaction selected from the group comprising date and time of issuing of a tag to said customer, the number of tags issued to said customer, the number and types of recyclable articles within each said container, the deposit value associated with each of said articles, and similar information for any selected time period. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said operator station comprises a data entry means selected from the group comprising a touchscreen, a handheld device, a combination of screen and keyboard, a voice-activated system, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A method for processing recyclable articles having a deposit value, wherein said articles are within a sealed container, comprising the steps of:
 establishing a customer account containing customer information;   providing a customer with an information carrier bearing a unique customer identifier which permits access to said customer account;   at a customer station, reading said customer identifier with a reader to obtain customer identification information, and communicating said information to an information processor;   generating at least one tag comprising a unique container identifier;   communicating said identifier to said information processor;   attaching said tag to said container;   at an operator station, reading the tag with a tag reader in communication with said information processor;   responsive to reading of said tag, accessing and opening at least a portion of said customer account at said operator station;   determining for said container the numbers and types of recyclable containers within said container and communicating said information to the information processor;   calculating a deposit value of said articles within the container;   updating said customer account to update the monetary value within said account responsive to said calculated deposit value; and,   providing a payment to said customer of all or part of the monetary value in said account.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said customer identifier includes a data carrier selected from one or more of the group comprising an optically-scannable bar code, a magnetic strip, an RFID device, and readable computer chip. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said information processor comprises a general purpose computer comprising program instructions. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said computer is adapted to communicate said customer account information via a global computer network connection. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said computer is remote from said user and operator interfaces. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said user interface permits said customer to enter a number reflective of the number of containers supplied by said customer, said user interface generating a separate identifier tag for each said container, and wherein said user interface communicates the total number of said tags issued to said customer to said central computer. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said computer is adapted to transfer any portion of the monetary value in said customer account to a selected recipient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said computer is adapted to update said customer account with information specific to each customer transaction selected from the group comprising the date and time of issuing of a tag to said customer, the number of tags issued to said customer, the number and types of recyclable articles within each said container, the deposit value associated with each of said articles, for any selected time period.